A/N: AU This story is and takes place as if Edward had chosen the second option, the option of not changing Bella and just staying with her for her lifetime. When the story opens, Bella is eighty-two years old (quite old enough to look like Edward's grandmother) and terminally ill in a hospital. Bella and Edward have had a wonderful life together, and Bella eventually accepted Edward's wish that she remain human. (Even though she still would have liked to be changed.) I hope you like my story, and please review. I haven't seen a plot similar to this. :) The POV's will switch around a bit between Edward and Bella. By the way, this is my first fanfic. :))

Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight

The Second Option

D y i n g

Bella POV

I knew what was happening. He told me that it wasn't. But I knew it really was. He sits there, beside my bed, and I can see it in his beautiful golden eyes. The fear. Fear that I'm leaving soon. Because it's true, I am. I'm dying, and he can't stop it. That is, not without changing me. But he decided not to change me over sixty years ago. I bet he wishes he had now.

Edward POV

I can't stand this. She lies there, so weak and frail, even more so than when she was healthy. She's dying, and I know it. I'll follow after her, it won't be long now, but she doesn't want me to take my life. If you classify my living as life. In my opinion, I'm dead already. I have no soul. But she and Carlisle think otherwise. Maybe they're right, maybe they're not. But I definitely cannot live in a world without Bella, I will follow after her.

I'm staring into her unchanged chocolate brown eyes. She's still so beautiful, even as an old lady, even dying.

Dying. I can't believe she's dying. I should have changed her when she asked. But that was over sixty years ago.

My body starts to shake with tearless sobs. I wish that I could hide my sadness from her. But she sees it.

Bella POV

I see him sobbing. It tears at my heart. I clear my throat. I really need to tell him something before I go, before it's too late. I feel that the time is coming soon.

"Edward."

"Yes, Bella?" he says through sobs.

"Edward, I love you."

His sobs shake his body harder. "Bella, I love you, too."

"Edward, I need to tell you something"

"Yes, anything," he replies.

"Edward, I can feel it, I'm dying. And I don't want you to follow me. Your family needs you. You can't take yourself away from them. You just can't."

"You are my life. When you die, I will follow."

I felt tears starting to fall down my cheeks. "Edward, don't leave me, please, I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you."

He reached over gently and hugged me carefully.

Just then, Carlisle came in to check on me. He said that I need some rest, and gave me some medicine. Soon, I was drifting off to sleep, dreaming dreams of when both Edward and I were young.

A/N: Hope you liked it! Please review! I don't know how far I'm going to take this story. I have three chapters written currently, but I do need some opinion on how it's coming for it to continue. I need one review to post the second chapter!

Twy